Coaches | Sportschology
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Coaches

Build mental skills into practice

Choose one behavior athletes can repeat under pressure. Teach it, rehearse it in a drill, and talk through what happened.

Take the Check-In

Coach Practice Check-In

Think about your last few sessions. How often did each behavior show up in your coaching? Your answers stay on this page. Use the results to choose a training habit to practice.

Clear instruction
Pressure rehearsal
Feedback and review
Game-day transfer

Where to start

  1. Name the behavior

    Pick something you can observe, such as athletes confirming their assignment after a mistake.

  2. Rehearse it under pressure

    Add a score or time limit to a familiar drill. Pause briefly between reps so athletes can use the reset.

  3. Debrief in one minute

    Ask what helped them respond and what they’ll repeat in competition.

A five-minute practice drill

  1. Spend one minute demonstrating the reset phrase and the action that follows.
  2. Run the drill for three minutes and cue the reset after an error or change of possession.
  3. Use the final minute to ask athletes to name one situation where they’ll use it.
Explore Training Challenges

What to do in common situations

  • A player rushes under a time limit

    Give the player a repeatable cue, such as “eyes up, then decide.” Rehearse it in a familiar drill before adding a countdown.

  • Athletes go quiet after errors

    Assign one player to call the reset. Ask the others to respond with their next job, then restart the rep.

  • A drill goes well but the skill disappears in games

    Practice in a closer game situation. Start tied with one possession left, or begin at deuce, and track use of the routine during the pressure rep.

Try it this week

  1. Session 1Model one cue and one action. Ask athletes to demonstrate both in a familiar drill.
  2. Session 2Add pressure. Record how many chances athletes had to use the routine and how often they used it.
  3. Session 3Ask athletes to choose one competition moment for the cue. Review what transferred at the next practice.

Mental skill practice plan

Fill this in or print a blank copy. To keep your answers, print or save as PDF before leaving the page.

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